Apparatus and method for managing a network of intelligent devices

• US 20060259604A1
• Filed: 04/12/2006
• Published: 11/16/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/15/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Esprida Corp.
• Original Assignee: Esprida Corp.
• Inventors: Jobanputra, Asad, Kotchavi, Uri, Hassan, Yousif
• Granted Patent: US 9,032,091 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/223
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0226 Mapping or translating multiple network management protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0806 for initial configuration or provisioning, e.g. plug-and-play
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0809 Plug-and-play configuration
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/082 the condition being updates or upgrades of network functionality
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0893 Assignment of logical groups to network elements
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0894 Policy-based network configuration management
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/5074 Handling of user complaints or trouble tickets
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/125 involving control of end-device applications over a network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/34 involving the movement of software or configuration parameters network booting or remote initial program loading [RIPL] G06F9/4416

Abstract

Systems and methods of managing a network of intelligent devices in communication with a server are disclosed. For each intelligent device that is part of a network a client process associated with the device issues a query to the device causing the issuance of a query to the server for instructions. In a controllable response to the query as a result of the client process the server causes at least one of: (i) downloading, for storage local to the device, at least one of data and instructions, for use in association with the device and (ii) uploading of data pertinent to the device.

Claims

1. A method of managing a network of intelligent devices in communication with a server, the method comprising:

for each device, establishing a client process associated with the device causing issuance of a query to the server for instructions;

in controllable response to the query received at the server as a result of the client process, causing at least one of;

(i) downloading, for storage local to the device, at least one of data and instructions, for use in association with the device and

(ii) uploading of data pertinent to the device.

2. A method according to claim 1, further comprising:

an interface in association with the server permitting establishment of a business rule governing management of operation of a selectable set of devices on the network.

3. A method according to claim 1, further comprising:

a download process running on the server for causing download of instructions pertinent to the selectable set of devices, for storage local to each of the selectable set of devices, that implement a rule at the device level.

4. A method as claimed in claim 1 in which a client component is associated with each of the intelligent devices, which client component is addressable by the server such that a plurality of devices running different operating systems are commonly addressable by the server to set an operating rule.

5. A method as claimed in claim 4 in which the client component is operable to translate the received operating rule for the operating system of the intelligent device.

6. A method for automatic configuration of an intelligent device in a network upon connection to the network, the method comprising:

configuring a server to accept queries associated with a device;

establishing a client process associated with the device causing issuance of a query to the server;

recognizing the device at the server based at least on the query causing issuance of configuration data to the device;

establishing a client process associated with the device for automatically configuring the device based upon the configuration data.

7. A method for management of intelligent devices within a network, the method comprising:

receiving at a server a set of criteria including device characteristics defining an organized group of the networked intelligent devices;

determining at the server membership of intelligent devices within the group based on a database containing characteristics of intelligent devices within the network;

sending from the server a signal to each member of the group identifying the intelligent device as a member of the group;

receiving an update signal from a group member;

wherein the server determines if the updated intelligent device is still a member of the group.

8. A method for management of intelligent devices according to claim 7, further comprising:

receiving at the server a change to the criteria of the organized group;

updating group membership.

9. A method for management of intelligent devices according to claim 7, wherein the signal sent to each member of the group is received by a client associated with the intelligent device.

10. A method for management of intelligent devices according to claim 9, wherein the client translates the signal into one or more instructions understood by the intelligent device.

11. A method for management of intelligent devices according to claim 7, further comprising:

receiving at the server a request for organized group information from a networked device other than one of the intelligent devices; and

sending information regarding the organized group to the networked device.

12. A method for management of intelligent devices according to claim 11, wherein each group includes an associated access level and based upon a received access level from the networked device, the server determines if the networked device can receive group information.

13. A method for management of intelligent devices according to claim 12, wherein the associated access level provides selective access to device characteristics.

14. A method according to claim 7, wherein device characteristics may include:

location, hardware model, software configuration, and device type.

15. A method for management of intelligent devices according to claim 8, wherein the change to the criteria of the group is originated by a networked device.

16. A method as claimed in claim 7 in which a client component is associated with each of the group members, which client components are commonly addressable by the server to set an operating rule for one or more of the group members.

17. A method as claimed in claim 16 in which each client component is operable to translate the received operating rule for the operating system of the group member.

18. A method as claimed in claim 17 in which the group members are addressable commonly or individually.

19. A system for managing networked intelligent devices in communication with a server, the system comprising:

for each networked intelligent device, a client process module for establishing a client process causing issuance of a query to the server;

a server process module responsive to the query causing at least one of;

downloading, for storage local to the device, at least one of data and instructions, for use in association with the intelligent device; and

uploading data pertinent to the device.

20. The system according to claim 19, further comprising:

an interface in association with the server process module permitting establishment of a business rule governing management of operation of a selectable set of intelligent devices on the network.

21. The system according to claim 20, further comprising:

a business method module on the server downloading business instructions pertinent to selectable set of devices, for storage local to each of the selectable set of intelligent devices that implement the business rule at a device level.

22. The system according to claim 21 wherein the business method module separates the business instructions from communication instructions between the client process module and the server-process module.

23. A system as claimed in claim 19 in which a client component is associated with each of the intelligent devices, which client component is addressable by the server such that a plurality of devices running different operating systems are commonly addressable by the server to set an operating rule.

24. A system as claimed in claim 23 in which the client component is operable to translate the received operating rule for the operating system of the intelligent device.

25. A system for management of intelligent devices within a network, the system comprising:

a receiver module located at a server receiving a set of criteria including device characteristics defining an organized group of the networked intelligent devices;

a group determination module located at the server determining membership of intelligent devices within the organized group based at least on a database containing characteristics of intelligent devices within the network;

a communications module located at the client on each member of the group for sending an update signal to the server which updates the group membership; and

the receiver module receiving an update signal from any member of the group.

26. A system for management of intelligent devices according to claim 25, further comprising:

an interface for receiving at the server a signal indicative of a change to the criteria of the group; and

wherein the communication module updates the group membership.

27. A system for management of intelligent devices according to claim 26, wherein the group determination module updates group affiliation based upon the dropout signal.

28. A system for management of intelligent devices according to claim 25, wherein the signal sent by the communication module to each member of the group is received by a client associated with the intelligent device.

29. A system for management of intelligent devices according to claim 28, wherein the client translates the signal into one or more instructions understood by the intelligent device.

30. A system for management of intelligent devices according to claim 25, further comprising:

an information module receiving a request for group information from a networked device other than one of the intelligent devices causing the communication module to send one or more group listings to the networked device.

31. A system for management of intelligent devices according to claim 30, further including a security module wherein when the information module receives a request for group information from a networked device, the security module determines an associated access level and based upon the access level, the security module determines if the networked device can receive information.

32. A system for management of intelligent devices according to claim 31, wherein the security module uses a user profile to determine if a networked device can receive can receive information.

33. A system for management of intelligent devices according to claim 30, wherein the security module uses a user profile to determine if a user can change characteristics of the information.

34. A system as claimed in claim 25 in which a client component is associated with each of the group members, which client components are commonly addressable by the server to set an operating rule for one or more of the group members.

35. A system as claimed in claim 34 in which each client component is operable to translate the received operating rule for the operating system of the group member.

36. A system as claimed in claim 35 in which the group members are addressable commonly or individually.

38. A computer product according to claim 36, further comprising:

computer code for an interface in association with the server permitting establishment of a business rule governing management of operation of a selectable set of devices on the network.

39. A computer program product according to claim 36, further comprising:

computer code for a business method download process running on the server for causing download of business instructions pertinent to the selectable set of devices, for storage local to each of the selectable set of devices, that implement the business rule at the device level.

37. A computer program product for use on a computer system for managing a network of intelligent devices in communication with a server, the computer program product comprising a computer usable medium having a computer readable program thereon, the computer readable program code including:

for each device, computer code establishing a client process associated with the device causing issuance of a query to the server for instructions;

computer code for causing, in controllable response to the query received at the server as a result of the client process, at least one of;

(i) downloading, for storage local to the device, at least one of data and instructions, for use in association with the device, and

(ii) uploading of data pertinent to the device.

40. A computer program product for use on a computer system for automatic configuration of an intelligent device in a network upon connection to the network, the computer program product comprising a computer usable medium having a computer readable program thereon, the computer readable program code including:

computer code for configuring a server to accept queries associated with a device;

computer code for establishing a client process associated with the device causing issuance of a query to the server;

computer code for recognizing the device at the server based at least on the query causing issuance of configuration data to the device; and

computer code for establishing a client process associated with the device for automatically configuring the device based upon the configuration data.

41. A computer program product for use on a computer system for management of intelligent devices within a network, the computer program product comprising a computer usable medium having a computer readable program thereon, the computer readable program code including:

computer code for receiving at a server a set of criteria including device characteristics defining an organized group of the networked intelligent devices;

computer code for determining at the server membership of intelligent devices within the group based on a database containing characteristics of intelligent devices within the network;

computer code for sending from the server a signal to each member of the group providing each member with the set of criteria defining the group;

computer code for receiving a dropout signal from any member of the group ceasing to meet the criteria for membership;

so that the intelligent devices automatically monitor their qualification for membership in the organized group.

42. A computer program product according to claim 41, further comprising:

computer code for receiving at the server a change to the criteria of the organized group;

computer code for sending an update of group criteria to each group member; and

computer code for receiving a dropout signal from any member of the group ceasing to meet the updated criteria for group membership.

43. A computer program product according to claim 41, further comprising computer code for receiving, by a client associated with the intelligent device, the signal sent to each member of the group.

44. A computer program product according to claim 43, further comprising computer code for translating, at the client, the signal into one or more instructions understood by the intelligent device.

45. A computer program product according to claim 41, further comprising:

program code for receiving at the server a request for organized group information from a networked device other than one of the intelligent devices; and

program code for sending information regarding the organized group to the networked device.

46. A computer program product according to claim 45, wherein each group includes an associated access level, the computer program product further comprising computer code for determining, at the server, if the networked device can receive group information.

47. A computer program product according to claim 46, wherein the associated access level provides selective access to device characteristics.

48. A computer program product according to claim 41, wherein device characteristics may include:

location, hardware model, software configuration, and device type.

49. A computer program product according to claim 42, further comprising computer code at a networked device for sending the change to the criteria of the group.

50. A system for management of intelligent devices within a network, the system comprising:

a network;

a server;

a plurality of intelligent devices each in communication with the server via the network, each of the intelligent devices having a client component which is addressable by the server such that a plurality of devices running different operating systems are commonly addressable by the server to set an operating rule.

51. A system as claimed in claim 50 in which the client component is operable to translate the received operating rule for the operating system of the intelligent device.